Volunteers to hand out free smoke alarms in Northeast this Saturday

Volunteers with free smoke alarms, batteries and fire prevention materials will visit more than 500 homes in Historic Northeast on Saturday, Nov. 3.

The group, which includes a dozen volunteers from 100 Black Men of Greater Kansas City, will depart from the Jesus Cristo El Buen Pastor Church, 4925 St. John Avenue, Kansas City, Mo., at about 10:15 a.m. to canvass a 25-square block area around the church.

Some volunteers are fluent in Spanish.

The “Cause for Alarm!” program is designed to help reduce injury, death and property loss caused by home fires by offering free smoke alarms to those in need. The program targets homeowners who do not have working smoke alarms.

Homeowners can get smoke alarms installed or batteries replaced year-round by calling the Smoke Alarm Hotline at (816) 841-5242. Those who are not senior or disabled, may call (816) 841-5237 to schedule a time to come pick up smoke alarms at the Greater Kansas City Chapter.

Each year, nearly 3,000 people die in U.S. home fires. Roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a fire by half.